C1 Prologue

Seven years ago…

~Max~

“I’m glad you come to visit us, son,” dad said as we enter his library room.

He went ahead to a minibar just as soon as we get inside, which was located just before a shelf that contains mainly business books based on the titles printed on the side of each of the books.

He gets himself a whiskey to drink. He asked if I want as well, but I refuse to. I don’t feel like drinking today.

I sit on the black leather couch that looks like a lazy boy seat but for two and made myself comfortable.

“I’m glad that I went here too, Dad. I never thought that this place would be like so much of a paradise. It’s peaceful here, quiet, and very refreshing. The life here is so laid back, but on the bright side, that I find it too calming. Because you know everything in the Metro moves so fast—life, time, chances, everything. Aargh. I need this kind of break more than I care to admit.” I told him. Feeling the vibe of the place.

“It’s great that you like it here too, son. That’s exactly the reason why your mom chose to retire in this place. She kinda felt love at first sight here when we first come here looking for a property. She has never stopped bugging me since then. And I couldn’t say no to her—so here we are now.” He said, and shrug his shoulder. I didn’t know about this place before until the time when they decided to move and settle here for good.

“Well, I must say you did the right decision. How did you find this place, anyway?” I asked, sounding like an interrogator or something.

“Well, you know your mom. She has her means. What she told me was that she learned about this place from a friend—and that friend of hers has nothing to say but all the good things,” Dad breathes a sigh, then sips on his glass of whiskey while looking at me straight in the eyes. “She comes to me one day and told me everything—said she was curious and wanted to see for herself, so you know what happens next.” He added.

“I see. So mom’s the mind behind all this, huh?” I said, then I grabbed the throw pillow on the other end of the couch afterwards, and squeezed it against my chest.

Then, silence fell before us.

So I just wander my eyes in the meantime. Taking in every detail of my surrounding as I stare intently at each and everything my eyes landed on.

“How’s the company?” Dad asked suddenly. And I immediately return my attention to him. He’s now pouring more whiskey into his glass. ‘He doesn’t like his whiskey that much, does he?’ my other mind blurted out.

“So far, so good. Don’t worry about it Dad, the company you and Mom built from scratch is in good hands now. Trust me,” I assured him. While tapping my fingers, just after I extended my left arm over the backrest of the couch I’m sitting on.

Dad sips on his whiskey again, then lets out a satisfactory sigh.

“Well, I’m not saying you can’t handle it. I know ever since—that you want to run the company all by yourself. It’s just that it happens earlier than expected. I hope that you are adjusting quite well, son,” He said, and I see a worried look suddenly drawn on his face.

“Don’t worry about me, Dad, I’m all good. The company, on the other hand, is progressing well. Actually, we are expanding more, and soon we’ll be going global,” I firmly said.

“How so?” Dad asked, with his forehead furrowed.

I nonchalantly curved my lips downward.

“We are considering exporting our fabrics, Dad. So we are delicately planning our moves to achieve that goal,” I proudly told him.

“Don’t you think it’s too early for that? Or that the company is ready for that already? You have to consider all the ins and outs of that plan of yours, Max. It might take you down to the ground if it wasn’t properly executed. You don’t wanna be so reckless about that,” Dad tries to lecture me. “That’s a big move, I must say. So you gotta be really careful, my son.” He added

“Honestly Dad, I’m not sure too. But how will I know? When will I know? If I didn’t take the risk now, when will I be ready to take it? When will be the right time for me to do it? There’s no perfect timing, Dad. I create my perfect timing. I want the company to go somewhere, then I need to do something—besides, I have all the right people, very dependable ones by my side to help me achieve my goal. And together, with teamwork and hard work, I know we’ll get somewhere,”

I explained to him, full of convictions with my every word.

I stand with what I believe.

My rules are what I stand by. And I know exactly what I’m doing because I’m in total control of myself, my actions, and everything that I do.

After my litany, an abrupt silence took over us. Dad downed his whiskey then pours some more.

“You are so much like your Mom my son. You two are both risk-takers. Sometimes I really don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours. But I trust your judgment, and I always believe in you and in everything that you do. So—I handed you the company at a very young age, which means I see something in you that will make the company more progressive than I ever did. Then, whatever you do to take it to a better position than it was the day you took over it—then do it. The ball is in your court already, Max. I trust that you can make it,” I never thought I would hear those words from him.

I suddenly feel speechless about his remarks.

“Though I’m warning you, it will never be easy. Just like how we were when we start building the company. It’s painful, it’s daunting—frustrating, and exhausting. However, if you surpassed all that, and when you suddenly look back, you will see how far you have gone from the point you started your journey. And just a piece of advice, take every obstacle, like how you eat an elephant,” Dad stated. His words were full of wisdom.

“Whatever do you mean by that?” I snorted and asked him—pertaining to his last statement.

“Well, how do you eat an elephant, if it is a meal?” Dad said with metaphor.

I don’t know why, but the competitive me wants to answer than riddle. Well, I find what he said as a riddle. I hate it because I am a straightforward man. But I’ll give dad the benefit of the doubt.

“Oh, okay—if an elephant is a meal, I’ll probably eat it inch by inch. Because there’s no way you can eat that whole. That’s enormous,” I exclaimed, then giggled.

“Exactly. When everything you want is so big that you think it’s impossible to achieve, then take it piece by piece or step by step. Inch by inch, just like you said,” Dad explained.

“Well, that’s an excellent piece of advice, I must say. I’ll keep that in mind, dad,” I told him. Yes, I will surely keep that in mind.

And as Dad and I enjoy our moment together, we suddenly hear a chatting outside. Dad put down his glass of whiskey and immediately went through a French door leading to the balcony. Instinct tells me to follow him, so I did.

And when we got outside the balcony, we see Mom having conversations with a girl less than twenty years of age; I assume because of how young she looked. She’s a beauty, and quite a catch, actually. She’s wearing a floral sundress. Her long, black and straight shiny hair that reaches up to her waist just flows naturally.

Mom looks so ecstatic while having conversations with the girl. And the girl looks so lovely by the way she smiles.

I look back at Dad.

“Who’s that?” I asked curiously.

“Krizza, she’s a local from here. Your mom is very fond of her. She’s a total beauty with brains and a good salesperson. She’ll make you buy all that she sells. It’s funny, but she’s really quite a catch,” Dad said, smiling widely.

If I didn’t know that my dad loved my Mom so much, I would probably think that he liked that girl. But I agree with what he just said.

“Is that so?” I asked, curiously.

“Uh-huh. You’ll see when you get to know her. And you know what, every time that girl Krizza went here, your mom is always on the verge of adopting her. My good Lord. If she decided to do so, there was no way I could stop her. You know your mom. She’ll get what she wants, and she always finds a way,” Dad stated. I just let him speak, but then he paused and look at me with his pointer finger pointing at me. “And you know how much I love mom, right?” He proclaimed.

“I know, dad. And if mom denies that, tell her I’m your witness,” and we both laugh.

“But what if? Just what if, son, that your mom decided to, are you okay with having a sister like Krizza?” Dad asked. I’m not sure if he’s serious or not.

“No way Dad,” I voiced out my disagreement. Then darted my attention back to mom and that girl, Krizza.

“Scratch that idea. A beauty like hers deserves to be praised in bed—in my bed. You don’t wanna see your own son and adopted daughter doing that sinful thing, do you?” I joked, but half meant what I said.

He just laughed.

“Maybe I could take her as my wife. That is more realistic than her being my sister. Plus, mom gets what she wants, a daughter. But a daughter-in-law.” I said, smiling my heart out, not realizing what I just said.

Then I laughed.

I was joking, right? Or am I not?

“Be careful what you wish for, my son. Because you might just get it,” he warned me.

“Well, if that’s a wish, then it’s not a bad wish after all,” I said.

I’m actually joking. Everything that is falling off my lips, regarding that Krizza, is a joke. Yes, just a joke!

“Alright. Alright. But I’m afraid you need to wait a year or two for that,” he stated while walking back inside the library. I followed him right away. Then we go straight to the door, out.

“Why is that?” I can’t seem to my tongue.

“Because the girl is minor. She just turned 17 the day before yesterday,” he answered. This time, he’s serious.

“I can wait. For a beauty that can launch a thousand ships—two years is nothing,” Now I’m making a bargain. I thought I was just kidding a while ago.

“No son. If you’re looking for someone to warm your bed, just look for someone else. Your mom won’t forgive you if you play with this one,” he voiced out dead serious.

“Come on Dad. I’m a good man. You said that yourself before, didn’t you? You know what? Might as well introduce me to her, will you?” Now I’m acting like a teenage guy who just had a crush for the first time.

“You’re impossible Max!” dad said, looking like he just lost a battle.

He can’t really say no to me.

We walk from the library room on the second floor all the way down and out to where we saw mom and that little kitten having their conversation.

“Elissa!” Dad called Mom.

“Hi Krizza, You’re here. How are you? Why don’t we go inside?” Dad opens a conversation with the little kitten, but he didn’t introduce me just yet.

“Hello, Uncle Nolan. I’m good! Thank you! How about you? I just went here to give those fruits and vegetables. We just had our second harvest this week. We’ll have more in the coming weeks,” she seems so happy. While pointing to the bunch of fruits and vegetables that were carefully put in a small wooden crate. That we, or I, didn’t notice a while ago.

And her voice is like music to my ears. I gaze at her. She is more beautiful, face to face than from afar. She has a pair of brown eyes that can see through you which are complemented by her sexy eyebrows. And her eyelashes are naturally long and curly. Her nose and lips are carved to perfection. Her smooth, light brown complexion is inviting me to run my fingers in her skin. And the girl has curves in all the right places. God, she looks like a goddess. And I can’t seem to take my eyes off of her.

“By the way, Krizza, this is my son Max. Max, this is Krizza,” my Mom introduces me to her.

Oh, thank God.

“He’s just here for a quick visit and will leave tomorrow already,” mom pauses, then she looks at me. “Can’t stay long with his parents, eh,” mom continued while making face, and for goodness’ sake, she’s sounding like a crybaby.

I just ignored mom and offered my hand to Krizza. She accepted it right away. I like that. She never keeps someone waiting.

Her hand feels so small, but I couldn’t let her hand go just yet. I like the feeling of her hand on mine. And the sparks. Yes, the sparks the moment our hands collided. It feels so damn good. I think I like her. Or is it more than just a simple like? I don’t know.

“It’s nice to meet you, Max!” she said, looking me straight in the eyes.

“The pleasure is mine, Krizza,” I told her. It’s really my pleasure.

I don’t know how to explain what’s going on, but there’s something invisible that’s transpiring before the two of us. It’s like we’re both enchanted by each other. I hope so.

God, what’s happening to me?

However, our magical moment was snapped off by Mom’s sudden interjection.

“Why don’t you join us for lunch?” she invited Krizza, but the latter declined my mom’s invitation. However, she just promise to be back in the afternoon instead.

Then she retrieved her hand from me. I didn’t know I was still holding her until I felt it as she pulled away.

She bids her farewell to both my parents first. Before she looks at me, smiles at me ever so sweetly.

“I’ll see you later,” I was out of myself as I say that.

“Yeh, see you later, bye!” she said, then turns her back. And started walking out. I just followed her with my eyes.

“Why are you just standing there? Walk her to the gate Maximus,” mom orders in a raised voice, and I was more than happy to oblige.

I feel so stupid while chasing after her.

“Krizza,”

She instantly turns around. “What’s wrong?”

“Mom, ask me to drop you home,” I lied.

“Oh, you don’t have to. I brought my dad’s truck with me, so I’m all good,” she said.

“Aw, shoot! So I’ll see you later, then?”

“I thought I already confirmed that?”

“Well, uhm. Just wanted to be sure. Like sure, sure,” God, this isn’t me. She suddenly laughs.

“Okay, see you later. Sure, sure!” She said, then turns her back. And gracefully walks towards the gate. While I was frozen still from where I’m standing. Just looking at her, until she completely disappears from my view.